Daily Devotional: Wednesday, Nov 11
Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: A Dangerous Church
Weekend Music links on iTunes: Majestic by Lincoln Brewster; Hosanna by Paul Baloche; The Stand by Hillsong; Desert Song by Hillsong.
Read: John 3:16; Acts 4:32-34; Ephesians 5:1-2
Think: While looking at a ‘dangerous church' Pastor Ben shared the Timberlake mission to make more and better disciples of Jesus Christ. This means we believe four things, the first we talked about yesterday and today we'll take a look at the second: God loves everyone!
Pastor Ben told us that we can tell how much we love something or someone by the level of sacrifice we are willing to give. Today is Veterans Day and a fitting time to remember the sacrifices made for us by so many - starting, of course, with Jesus. Jesus showed us how much He loved us by giving all He had. He not only died for us but first became a man giving up His rightful place in heaven, leaving that perfect place of peace and love to be with us. Jesus did this for each one of us not a select few...but everyone!
Since then, many have made sacrifices that we may live and worship God in freedom, from the early Christians who shared all they had with each other, to those martyred for their faith, to those who fight for the freedoms we enjoy - those freedoms that are paramount to the continued spread of the Gospel. In many places in the world it is still a danger to be a Christian and we are given that freedom at a precious cost.
God's love is not only for us however but to share with everyone, because God has a heart big enough for all. We are the conduits of that love - which became very clear to me in my early years of parenting. When my eldest child was young a friend came round to play with him while I had a shower. This may not seem like much, but my son had colic, and my life had screaming as the soundtrack for most of my days. The joys of colic! Just getting a little time to myself and a small amount of peace and quiet was such a precious gift and showed her love for me in a way that spoke directly to my heart. Sometimes it is something small that speaks love to us so strongly.
Today around the world many countries will come to a stop at 11 a.m. for a minute's silence to remember those who have died to preserve and protect our freedoms. In many places traffic stops and shops become still and quiet in respect for that sacrifice.
Do: Take a minute to remember those who have given all they had for love of others today... at 11 a.m. if you can. Then consider how we can show God's love to others in even the smallest of ways - for often the small things mean more than we can explain.
Pray: Dear Lord, we thank you for Your great sacrifice on the cross so that we can be forgiven of our sin! We also thank you for the many sacrifices made by your people that show us how much we are loved. Please help us to share Your love with others as we go about our daily lives, help us make a difference - no matter how small - in how loved people feel. Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church. |
